TW200809324A - Touch screen having reduced visibility transparent conductor pattern - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a transparent touch screen construction that includes a pattern of layer stacks disposed on a substrate. The layer stacks each include a transparent conductor layer and an intermediate layer positioned between the substrate and the transparent conductor layer. The intermediate layer has a reflactive index that is lower than that of the transparent conductor layer and that of the substrate. The construction of the layer stacks reduces the difference in visible light transmission between the areas of the substrate covered by the stacks and the areas of the substrate left exposed by the stacks. Also disclosed are methods for reducing the visibility of a patterned transparent conductor in a touch screen by disposing an intermediate layer pattern between a substrate and a transparent conductor pattern, the intermediate layer pattern and transparent conductor pattern being coincident.

Description

200809324 IX. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field of the Invention] The present disclosure relates to a touch screen, and in particular, to a touch screen on a display using a transparent conductor pattern as a touch sensing element (on-display touch screen) ). [Prior Art] The term "projecting electric m guides the body pattern to project a field through a relatively thick dielectric (such as a thin chain 4tr, oil ▲ < ▲ . ▲ ^

Touching the screen has become an increasingly common way for users to interact intuitively with electronic systems, typically electronic systems that include displays for viewing information. The transparent touch screen can be placed on the variable display and = image, so that the displayed information and images can be viewed by touching the screen. Touch screen technologies suitable for use in these configurations include resistive, electrical =, projected capacitive 'inductive, surface acoustic, force and others. Many of the projected capacitive and inductive touch screens utilize the conductor pattern as the sensing element ^^, etc.). Curtain, the field is excited, in the stylus). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a transparent touch screen structure including a substrate including a substrate and a complex

Thereby leaving a transparent conductor layer and a middle conductor layer between the stack of the substrate, the middle layer 119871.doc 200809324 has a refractive index of ~i, a refractive index of the transparent conductor layer and less than the refractive index of the substrate . The stacks are designed such that the difference in visible light transmission through the area covered by the stacks and the area exposed by the stacks of 5 hai has a maximum and an approximation of about 1% or less. An average of .5% or less. The transparent touch screen includes a plurality of wires electrically connected to the transparent conductor layer and configured for connection to controller electronics, the controllers being adapted to be based on - Touch the input to pure transparent conductor

The signal received at the time determines the touch input information. In some embodiments, the 'transparent touch screen construction can include additional layers in the layer stack, filler materials (adhesives) disposed on the substrate and layer stack, additional substrates laminated to the structure (eg, An optical adhesive filling material is used as the laminating adhesive, wherein the additional substrate may also comprise an inductive element consisting of a layer stack similar to the layer stack described above. The invention also provides a touch input system comprising a transparent touch glazing overlay that can be viewed via a display device, a touch input monitor, a point of sale terminal, a public information station, a palm-sized device, a table Type pc or the like. The present invention further provides a method for reducing the visibility of a patterned transparent guide in a touch screen. The steps include: patterning a transparent conductor on a substrate; and patterning an intermediate layer between the substrate and the patterned transparent conductor, wherein the transparent conductor pattern conforms to the intermediate layer pattern. The intermediate layer has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the substrate and less than the refractive index of the patterned transparent conductor. The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every structure of the present disclosure. A more complete understanding of the present invention, together with a more complete understanding of the invention, will be apparent from the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; [Embodiment] The present disclosure (10) touches a screen, specifically, "using a transparent conductor pattern as a sensing element to touch a ^^ 卞&lt; touch screen, and more specifically, about transmitting visible light to make The touch screen can be viewed by (4) touching the screen (for example, touching the screen on the display (or transparent)). Many touch curtains utilize a transparent conductor as the sensing element and can be provided in the form of a continuous coating or in a pattern such as spaced apart stripes, lines, linings, grids and the like. A transparent beach body typically has a reflection that can cause reflection (eg, due to a difference in refractive index between the transparent conductor and the underlying substrate), and a lower transmission (eg, 'due to absorption and reflection of light” And optical (for example, from the preferential absorption of a specific wavelength range in the visible spectrum). When a transparent conductor is provided as a single continuous coating, θ, if the coating is relatively uniform over the viewable area of the device, the optical effects may not be apparent. In a device using a transparent conductor pattern, it is possible to distinguish the area covered by the pattern from the area not covered by the pattern due to the difference in optical effect. This can distract the user, and in some applications, it may be unreasonable from an aesthetic point of view or even interfere with the information and images displayed on the display. Especially in environments where the device may be exposed to high ambient light conditions, the transparent conductor pattern of the touch sensor device may be poorly visible when the underlying display is turned on or off. The Tanaba disclosure involves patterning on a substrate or otherwise providing a plurality of layer stacks. Each-layer stack includes a transparent conductor layer and a lower index intermediate layer disposed between the substrate and the transparent 119871.doc 200809324 conductor. Additional layers may be included in the layer stack, for example, the upper back layer 'the upper cladding layer is disposed such that the transparent conductor layer is between the upper cladding layers' intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has a lower refractive index than the transparent conductor layer: refractive index. The thickness of the transparent conductor layer and the intermediate layer can be selected such that the layer = abundance provides an anti-reflective feature such that visible light transmission through the stack is transmitted substantially through the visible light of the region not covered by the stack. For example, : See the spectrum, the percentage of transmission through the area not covered by the stack and the coverage of the tooth covered by the heap. The percentage of transmission between the areas can be, the force is 1% or less. The average difference between the percentage of transmission through the area not covered by the stack and the percentage of transmission through the area covered by the stack may be about 0.5% or less, preferably 3% or less. Helps ensure that the transparent (four) pattern has little or no user visibility under normal operating conditions. In an exemplary configuration according to the present disclosure, the substrate, the intermediate layer, the optional overlying layer, optionally filled material The optional adhesive and the like are substantially transparent in visible light. Suitable substrates may include glass and various plastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), various acrylic resins, polycarbonate. Ester, and any other substrate suitable for use in currently known or later developed applications. Suitable transparent conductor materials include transparent conductive oxides such as antimony tin oxide (IT〇), tin oxide antimony (TA〇). ), other doped tin oxides, and the like. Suitable transparent conductor materials also include conductive polymer materials such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyacetylene, polythiophene, polyphenylene extended ethylene, polyphenylene sulfide Ether, p〇ly p-phenylene, ^heterocyclic ethylene. For example, an exemplary conductive polymer is substituted poly 11987I.doc 200809324 exoethylene dioxy which is commonly referred to as curry τ Suitable oxidized materials can be layer materials, filler materials and adhesive materials including soil stack materials, optical adhesives, etc. In the exemplary construction of the case, 'layer stacking can be provided on the substrate, \ Τ include - placed in On the substrate The intermediate layer and a transparent conductor layer disposed on each of the upper layers, a straight Φ

θ I can also be placed on the exposed portion of the substrate as appropriate. An exemplary material selection may result in a refractive index for each of the individual components: a substrate refractive index of about 1.4 to 1.8 (e.g., 'for ΡΕΤ is about 】 67 wide intermediate layer refractive index is 4 Μ · 6 (for example, for Si〇2 is about 145); the transparent refractive index is about 17 to 2.2 (for example, about 2G for help); and the refractive index of the filler is 4 to i. 8 (for example, for optical adhesives, 5) In an exemplary configuration, the intermediate layer has a refractive index smaller than that of the transparent conductor and may be smaller than the refractive index of the substrate, and the refractive index of the filler is close to the refractive index of the substrate and/or the refractive index of the intermediate layer. The touch sensitive overlay of the construction of the present disclosure includes a touch sensitive overlay that utilizes a patterned transparent conductor as the sensing element. These include discrete matrix touch sensors (such as U.S. Patent No. 6,8 13,957) , No. 6,762,752, No. 6, 188, 391, No. 5, 844, No. 5, No. 5, 386, 219, and No. 5, 007, 085, and International Publications WO 01/27868, WO 02/100074, and WO 01/52416, Each of them is included in this document in full text. Discrete bar sensors (such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,650,597 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2, 3, No. 4, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) </ RTI> <RTIgt; U.S. Patent No. 4,198,539, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety in its entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire disclosure Benefits from on-screen applications, including handheld devices (such as 'handheld computers, personal calendars, mobile phones, music players', etc.), tablet computers, car navigation system displays, touch input monitors, Public information enquiry station 'automated teller machine, gaming and entertainment devices, etc. Figure 1 shows an illustration of a sensor construction 100 comprising a plurality of layer stacks arranged on a substrate 12A. The side stack 11 〇 includes an intermediate layer 112 and a transparent conductor layer 114. The layer stack 11 is configured such that visible light transmission through the region 13 盍 covered by the stack 4: 110 is almost worn The visible light transmission through the area exposed by the stack 110. Although the layer 112 and the layer ι4 are not equal in lateral dimension, this need not be the case, as long as the patterns are uniform. Occasionally (for example, due to Precisely patterning or aligning or deliberately changing the lateral dimensions of the layers in the layer stack relative to each other. For example, it may be desirable to have the intermediate layer 112 wider than the transparent conductor layer 114' such that the intermediate layer 112 extends laterally beyond the transparent conductor layer 114. This ensures that the contact does not exist in the case where the contact between the transparent conductor layer U4 and the underlying substrate is preferably avoided. The layer stack can be patterned in any suitable manner that can result in a consistent pattern for each layer. For example, each layer can be deposited sequentially on the surface of the substrate, and the portions of the stack can be removed from the substrate to form a pattern. Various techniques can be used for shifting (four) minutes, such as photolithography, laser ablation, patterning, and the like. The introduction of the pattern of the separation process includes the full text. U.S. Patent No. 4,7, 4, 4, 714, 631 and 4, 895, 630, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The revealed pattern is separated from the process. Such processes involve patterning the undercoat layer onto a region of the substrate that will not be covered by the layer stack (i.e., in a pattern opposite the desired layer, the stacked pattern), forming a layer stack over the entire area of interest. The substrate is rinsed to remove the layer stack from the patterned area to leave the desired layer stack pattern. A suitable method can include the method of resection disclosed in U.S. Patent No. M89,544, which is incorporated herein by reference. A suitable method of engraving may include the etching method disclosed in the U.S. Alternatively, it may be by, for example, deposition via a mask, by direct printing (eg, screen printing, inkjet printing, or the like), by separate etching and/or lithographic steps for each layer, Each layer is individually patterned by patterned transfer or any suitable combination of 5. In order to form a pattern of such layers, the individual patterning will typically involve an alignment step for each new layer of the stack. Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of another inductor configuration 2A comprising a plurality of layer stacks 2配置 disposed on a substrate 2 2 . The layer stack 2 i includes an intermediate layer 212, a transparent conductor layer 214 on the intermediate layer 212, and a cladding layer 210 disposed on the transparent conductor layer 214. Figure 2 also shows an example of the area 230 covered by the stack 210 and the area 240 exposed by the stack 210. 3 shows a four-sided side view 1 stack 3iq including a plurality of layer stacks 31 disposed on a substrate 320. H493l.doc -12- 200809324 - Inductive H configuration 3 〇 () can be any suitable configuration, for example, A configuration similar to the stack ι shown in FIG. 2 or the stack 210 shown in FIG. Figure 3 again indicates - a fill coating disposed on the area 330 covered by the stack and the area 34 曝 exposed by the stack. "The fill material can be any suitable material, for example, the refractive index and the refractive index of the substrate. Matching materials (for example, to reduce interfacial reflections in areas exposed by the stack) or adhesives such as optically clear adhesives (for example, for bonding, to other components not shown), Such as a substrate, a display device, a protective film, an optical film, and the like.) One = 4 shows the other sensor structure 4 (8) including a plurality of layer stacks 41 不! · Raw side; 13⁄43⁄4 'The plurality of layers are stacked 41〇 is disposed on the substrate (4) to form a region 43〇 covered by the crucible 410 and the region exposed by the stack 隹a: 4l has any suitable configuration according to the present disclosure. The second substrate is disposed on the layer The stack #41G is configured and adhered to the structure by an adhesive such as an optical adhesive. The substrate provides protection from 'rigid, optical functionality (eg, light control, polarization, retardation, etc.)' Etc. Substrate 460 An additional surface may be provided on which an additional layer stack may be formed. For example, a layer stack including a transparent conductive layer (ie, similar to the stack 41A) may be formed on the substrate 46 and disposed in and In the direction perpendicular to the direction of the stack 410, the grid of the sensing elements of the matrix touch screen is read. Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of the $3 g constitutive structure, the sensor 500 is placed on the substrate. The first plurality of layer stacks 51 on the first side are disposed on opposite sides of the substrate 52 and are different from the first plurality of layers 119871.doc -13 - 200809324 (for example, vertically) An oriented second plurality of layer stacks 57. The layer stack 51 is constructed in accordance with the present disclosure to reduce light transmission through the regions 530 covered by the stack and light transmission through the regions 54 exposed by the stack. The difference between the layers can be similarly constructed. The substrate 52 can be used to provide a support structure and to electrically insulate the sensing elements formed by the layer stack 51 from the sensing elements formed by the layer stack 570. Different exhibitions can be applied to A schematic plan view of the sensor layout in the sensor of the disclosure. The inductor 6A includes a first plurality of sensing elements 610 disposed on one side of the substrate 62 and disposed on the opposite side of the substrate 62 and associated with The first plurality of sensing elements 610 are vertically oriented by the second plurality of sensing elements 670. Each of the sensing element 61 and the sensing element 67 is shown as a series of diamonds joined by relatively narrow traces The shape, but may be provided in any suitable configuration, such as a bar of uniform width. In the arrangement shown in Figure 6, the diamond shapes of the first plurality of sensing elements 61 are arranged in a line such that each set of four An adjacent diamond shape forms a gap or window of a diamond shape. The second plurality of sensing elements 67A are shown as being configured such that the diamond 670 of the vertical trace fits within the window formed by the diamonds of the horizontal trace, for example, to allow the touch object to be more efficiently coupled A vertical sensing element located below the horizontal sensing element in the sensor configuration. In such configurations that the second set of diamond shaped sensing elements are positioned below the sensing elements of the first set of diamond shapes, the second set of diamonds may be slightly larger than the first set of diamonds to increase the coupling area 'for compensation The increased distance between the input and the second set of sensing elements (and thus the lower coupling strength). The sensing elements are connected to a series of leads 680' which are configured to help identify which H9871.doc 14 200809324 (which) vertical and horizontal traces are closest to the touch input. As shown, the sensing element is connected to the lead at both ends, but it should be understood that it is also contemplated in the present invention that the sensing element is only connected at the end of the lead to the periphery of the lead. (10) 68 〇 is gathered at a point where it can be connected to the electronic tail 690. An electronic tail 69〇 can be coupled at another end to controller electronics (not shown) for interpreting the touch signal and determining an additional non-limiting example of the touch display of various layer stack patterns, the layer stack The pattern may be suitable when constructing a touch sensor having a patterned layer stack in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 7(4) shows that the layer stack pattern 7 is tender, and a may include an electrically continuous transparent conductor layer over the entire effective touch area. The uncovered area 74GA is shown as a regular square array, but can be configured in any desired configuration. Figure 7(b) shows a layer stack pattern disposed in a linear parallel bar array chest where the uncovered areas 740B separate the bars. Fig. 7(4) shows a layer stack pattern arranged in a linear triangular bar array, wherein the uncovered regions 74〇c separate the triangular strips. Those skilled in the art should be aware that 'other configurations may exist. Figure 8 does not include a schematic diagram of a touch sensor system of the sensor 8 (10) according to the present disclosure, the sensor being disposed on the display device milk such that the display device can be viewed via the sensor 800. The sensor interface is connected to the controller electronics that communicate signals to the sensor and communicate signals from the sensor so that information relating to the touch input on the sensor can be determined, such as a touch location. The display device 8〇5 can be coupled to a processing unit such as a CPU of the computer, 8〇6, __神神-〇Λ, 士μ处理早兀806 communication should be displayed on the display device I19871.doc -15- 200809324 content. In other embodiments, the display device can be a static (i.e., 'non-variable) display such that it does not have to be connected to the processing unit. The shank controller electronics and the processing unit 鸠 enable the touch input information to be used by a computer (not shown) and the results can be displayed on the display device. Optical modeling was used to compare the interior of the layer stack construction * specific ratio of the present disclosure, visible light transmission. Similar control configurations for each-construction and comparison construction and without the transparent conductor pattern are also compared. The value of the (four) value between the per-layer stack structure and the transmission of the corresponding control structure indicates the phase discrimination of the area covered by the stack to the area not covered by the layer stack: level. Evaluate the following constructions, ordering each layer for each structure: Construction A (Control): 1.67 Refractive Index Layer (to simulate pET substrate) 1 ·5 Demolition Layer (to simulate optical adhesive) Construction B (Control ): 1.67 refractive index layer (to simulate PET substrate) 30 nm thick ΐ·45 refractive index layer (to simulate yttrium oxide) 1 ·5 refractive index layer (to simulate optical adhesive) Construction C: 1.67 refractive index layer ( Analog ΡΕΊΓ substrate) 30 nm thick 1.45 refractive index layer (to simulate yttrium oxide) 20 nm thick 2.0 refractive index layer (to simulate ϊτ〇) 30 nm thick 1.45 refractive index layer (to simulate yttrium oxide) 1.5 Refractive index layer (to simulate optical adhesive) Construction D : 119871.doc -16- 200809324 1·67 Refractive index layer (to simulate PET substrate) 30 nm thick 1.46 refractive index layer (to simulate yttrium oxide) · 20 nm Thick 2·0 refractive index layer (to simulate IT〇) 1·5 refractive index layer (to simulate optical adhesive) Construction Ε (comparative): 1.67 refractive index layer (to simulate ΡΕ1Γ substrate) 20 nm thick 2·0 Refractive index layer (to simulate ιτο) 1.5 refractive index layer (to simulate optical adhesive) Construction F (comparative)·· 1 ·67 refractive index layer (to simulate ρΕΤ substrate) 20 nm thick 2.0 refractive index layer (to simulate IT〇) 3 0 nm thick ι·45 refractive index layer (to simulate yttrium oxide) 1 ·5 refractive index layer Simulating Optical Adhesives) Figure 9 shows internal transmission as a function of wavelength over the visible spectrum for each of these configurations. Comparing each of the construction c and the construction D with the structure &amp; A, not for the internal transmission in the region covered by the layer stack of the pattern with the corresponding layer stack structure and exposed by the layer stack What is the case with the internal transmission in the region of chrome. For each of the construction c and the configuration k D, the maximum difference in internal visible light transmission between the coverage area and the exposed area is about 〖% or less, and the average difference in internal transmission on the visible spectrum is about 〇 • 5% or less, preferably 〇·3% or less. When the layer stack of the self-constructed kC and the structure D is assuming the ruthenium oxide layer between the ρ Ε τ substrate and the ι 〇 〇 conductive layer, the resultant structure is exemplified by comparing the structure F and the comparison structure Ε, respectively. As can be seen from Figure 9, the internal transmission of the comparative structure 119871.doc -17- 200809324 and the comparative structure e is significantly lower than the structure c and the structure d over the entire visible spectrum. Thus the configuration of the present disclosure can result in touch sensitivity due to a decrease in the difference between the transmission of light through the region of the inductor covered by the layer stack and the transmission of light through the region not covered by the layer stack. The overall transmission of the overlying coating is improved and the visibility of the transparent conductor pattern is reduced. The invention is not to be considered as being limited to the specific examples described above, but is to be construed as covering all such modifications of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, and many structures to which the present invention may be applied will become apparent to those skilled in the <RTIgt; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a sensor construction in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of another inductor configuration in accordance with the present disclosure; 4 is a schematic side view of another inductor configuration in accordance with the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of another inductor configuration in accordance with the present disclosure; Figure 7 (a) to Figure 7 (c) is a schematic plan view of the configuration of the sensing element; _ is a schematic diagram of the touch sensor system; and H9871.doc -18- 200809324 Figure 9 is a plot of transmission over the visible spectrum for various sensor configurations including configurations and comparative configurations in accordance with the present disclosure. [Main component symbol description]

100 Inductor Construction 110 Layer Stack 112 Intermediate Layer 114 Transparent Conductor Layer 120 Substrate 130 Area 140 Area 200 Inductor Construction 210 Layer Stack 212 Intermediate Layer 214 Transparent Conductor Layer 216 Overlay 220 Substrate 230 Area 240 Area 300 Sensor Construction 310 Layer Stack 320 Substrate 330 Area 340 Area 350 Filler Coating 119871.doc -19- 200809324 400 Sensor Construction 410 Layer Stack 420 Substrate 430 Area &quot; 440 Area - 450 Adhesive 460 Second Substrate 500 Inductor Construction W 510 Layer Stack 520 Substrate 530 Area 540 Area 570 Layer Stack 600 Sensor 610 Inductive Element / Diamond • 620 Substrate 670 Inductive Element / Diamond 680 Lead '690 Electronic Tail' 730A Layer Stack Pattern 730B Linear Parallel Bar Array 730C Linear Triangle Bar Array 740A Area 740B area 119871.doc -20- 200809324

740C 800 801 805 806 A B C

E F area sensor controller electronics display device processing unit structure structure structure structure comparison structure comparative structure 119871.doc -21 -

Claims (1)

200809324 X. Patent application scope: 1. A transparent touch screen structure, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of layer stacks disposed on the substrate, thereby leaving an area of the substrate exposed by the stack and the like a region of the substrate covered by the stacks. Each layer stack includes a transparent conductor layer and an intermediate layer disposed between the substrate and the transparent conductor layer, the intermediate layer having a layer smaller than the transparent conductor layer a refractive index that is less than a refractive index of the substrate; and, a plurality of leads electrically connected to the transparent conductor layers and configured for connection to controller electronics, the controller electronics The touch input information is determined based on the received number when a touch input is coupled to the transparent conductors, and the eight teeth are over the areas covered by the stacks and by the stacks The difference in visible light transmission of the regions of the exposure has a maximum of about or less and an average of about 5% or less. 2. If requested! Transparently touching the screen structure, wherein each stack is further disposed on the upper layer of the transparent conductor layer such that the transparent conductor layer resides between the intermediate layer and the overlying layer, the overlying layer having a smaller The refractive index of the refractive index of the transparent conductor layer. 3. If the request item touches the screen structure, further comprising a fill 2, the filler material is disposed on the substrate and covers the plurality of layers and is exposed by the plurality of layer stacks And other areas. 4. The transparent touch screen structure of claim 3 wherein the filling material is a 119871.doc 200809324 optical lacquer. 5. The transparent touch screen structure of claim 1, wherein the substrate is plastic. 6. The transparent touch screen structure of claim 1, wherein the substrate is PET. 7. The transparent touch screen structure of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is a transparent touch screen structure of oxidized stone 〇 〇 · 求 求 1 , wherein the transparent conductor layer is oxidized. 9. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 3, wherein the substrate has a refractive index of about 16 to 1.7, the intermediate layer has a refractive index of about 1.4 to 忒, and the transparent conductor has a thickness of about 1 A refractive index of 8 to 2.1, and the filler material has a refractive index of about 1.4 to 1.8. 10. The transparent touch screen structure of claim 4, wherein the substrate is a first substrate, and further comprising: having an optically transparent adhesive adhered to an inner surface of the first substrate and/or the inner surface On the contrary, the surface of the younger-substrate. 11. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 10, wherein the second substrate is a plastic. 12. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 10, wherein the second substrate is PET 〇 13. The transparent touch screen configuration of claim 1 is wherein the second substrate is glass. 14. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 10, wherein the second substrate comprises an anti-reflective coating on the outer surface. 15. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 1 wherein the second substrate comprises 119871.doc 200809324 a hard coating on the outer surface. 16. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 10, wherein the optically clear adhesive that adheres the second substrate to the first substrate is the fill material. 17. The transparent touch screen construction of claim 1 wherein the second substrate further comprises a plurality of touch sensitive elements arranged in a pattern. 18. The transparent touch screen structure of claim 17, wherein the second substrate The plurality of touch sensitive elements have a layer configuration identical to that of the plurality of layer stacks of the first substrate. 19. A method for reducing the visibility of a patterned transparent conductor in a touch screen, comprising: patterning a transparent conductor on a substrate and patterning between the substrate and the patterned transparent conductor And an intermediate layer, wherein the transparent conductor pattern is consistent with the intermediate layer pattern, and wherein the intermediate layer has a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of the substrate and smaller than a refractive index of the patterned transparent conductor. 2. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of disposing a _fill material on the patterned transparent conductor and the intermediate layer, the fill material having a refractive index less than a refractive index of the patterned transparent conductor Refractive index. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of placing a substrate on the filler material. 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of patterning the transparent conductor occurs simultaneously with the step of patterning the intermediate layer. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of patterning the inter-layer of the towel occurs prior to the step of patterning the transparent conductor. I19871.doc 200809324 24 - A touch input system comprising: a touch screen overlay comprising a substrate, a transparent conductor sensing disposed on the substrate in an active area of the touch An element pattern and an intermediate layer pattern disposed in the pattern of the transparent conductor sensing element and disposed between the substrate and the transparent conductor sensing element pattern, the intermediate layer having a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of the transparent conductor and less than a refractive index of the substrate Refractive index The air conditioner electronics 'transfer to the transparent conductor sensing element Figure 2 = configuration to self-defend the on-screen overlay due to the touch input in the active area, and to determine the signal based on the The information related to the touch input; and (4)... - the display device that can be viewed by touching the cover on the screen. 119871.doc